Category: Uncategorized

Defining Trusts with Ashley Han (Ep. 13)

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What role do trusts play in securing a future for your loved ones? 

Andy Dziedzic, joined by co-host Megan LeBarron and guest Ashley Han, an esteemed trust professional from High Point Law Offices, delves into the significance of trusts in estate planning. With over 20 years of legal experience, Ashley offers invaluable insights into the world of trusts and how they can protect and manage your assets effectively.

Listen as Andy, Megan and Ashley discuss:

  • The basics of trusts and their role in estate planning 
  • Why testamentary trusts are crucial for managing inheritances 
  • The differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, and how they function
  • Strategies for using trusts to minimize taxes and protect assets 
  • The benefits of charitable remainder trusts for legacy planning
  • And more!

Resources:

Get in Touch: 

Connect with Ashley Han:

About Our Guest: 

Ashley Han’s practice focuses on representing clients in estate planning and representing executors and trustees in estate administration. She joined HighPoint Law Offices in early 2022. She began her career as a judicial law clerk in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Philadelphia. Before joining the firm, Ashley was a U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney.

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Estate Planning Essentials for Widows (Ep. 12)

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What will your legacy say about you? 

Andy Dziedzic and Megan LeBarron dig deep into estate planning essentials that widows and anyone serious about their financial health can’t afford to overlook.

Join in as they discuss practical steps for ensuring financial clarity and control, even in trying times. With a focus on empowerment, Andy and Megan introduce actionable resources like their pre-planning checklists estate summaries, and post-loss guides to help you organize and secure your future with confidence.

By listening, you’ll gain insights into:

  • The importance of financial summaries and preparedness checklists
  • Essential steps in the estate planning process
  • Managing beneficiaries and asset titling
  • Considerations for guardianship, trusts, and medical directives 
  • And more!

Resources:

Get in Touch with The Widow Empowerment Project:

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Planning for Peace: Estate Planning Made Simple with Ashley Han (Ep. 11)

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What would happen to your loved ones if you weren’t here tomorrow?

In this episode of The Widow Empowerment Project, Andy Dziedzic and Megan LeBarron are joined by estate planning professional Ashley Han to address something we all know we need to do but often put off—getting our plans in order.

Ashley breaks it down in simple terms, covering the must-haves like wills and powers of attorney, plus other options like trusts and planning for loved ones with special needs. They also touch on how to start these conversations with your family and avoid common mistakes.

Whether you’re dealing with big changes or just trying to get organized, this conversation is full of easy-to-understand tips to help you take that first step.

Talking points include:

  • Start Early, Plan Smart: Learn how proactive estate planning eliminates the guesswork for your family and prepares for life’s unexpected events
  • Key Documents You Need: Discover the must-have tools like wills, living wills, and powers of attorney that form the backbone of every plan
  • Tailored Solutions for Unique Needs: From business succession plans to special needs trusts, explore how personalized strategies could safeguard your loved ones
  • Why DIY Fails: Avoid costly mistakes by leveraging legal advice to ensure your plan is thorough and legally sound
  • Family Communication is Key: Open dialogue with loved ones ensures everyone is on the same page when it matters most
  • And much more!

Resources:

Get in Touch with The Widow Empowerment Project:

Connect with Ashley Han:

About Our Guest: 

Ashley Han’s practice focuses on representing clients in estate planning and representing executors and trustees in estate administration. She joined HighPoint Law Offices in early 2022. She began her career as a judicial law clerk in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Philadelphia. Before joining the firm, Ashley was a U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney.

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Life After Loss: How Brave Widow Helps Women Rebuild with Emily Tanner (Ep. 10)

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Grief changes everything—but what if it could also ignite a path to purpose?

In this episode of The Widow Empowerment Project, Andy Dziedzic and Megan LeBarron welcome Emily Tanner, who shares her personal story of loss and how it inspired her to create Brave Widow, a transformative community for widows navigating life after loss.

Brave Widow isn’t just about healing—it’s about empowering widows with practical tools, emotional support, and a network of like-minded women to help them rebuild meaningful lives.

If you or someone you know is facing grief, this conversation offers a lifeline of hope and a roadmap for recovery.

Talking points include:

  • Grief Is Overwhelming but Surmountable: Widows should not face grief alone. Accessing supportive resources like Brave Widow can ease emotional and logistical burdens.
  • Start Small, Take Steps Forward: Even small actions can lead to meaningful progress. The Brave New Widow Workbook offers practical guidance for managing life’s new challenges.
  • Leverage Tools and Community: Coaching, resources, and a supportive community can dramatically accelerate the path from loss to renewal.
  • And more!

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with The Widow Empowerment Project:

Connect with Emily Tanner:

 

About Our Guest: 

Emily Tanner founded Brave Widow, a platform dedicated to empowering widows through grief with practical resources, coaching, and community. After facing the challenges of widowhood herself, Emily has made it her mission to simplify the grief journey for others.

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Empowered Grief: Navigating Loss and Rebuilding Life with Support with Claire Drexler (Ep. 9)

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Grief is a deeply personal journey, but with the right support, it becomes more manageable, offering comfort in life’s toughest moments.

In this episode, Andy Dziedzic and Megan LeBarron speak with Claire Drexler, a licensed clinical social worker and grief educator from the Center for Loss and Bereavement. Claire discusses a holistic approach to grief counseling and the wide range of services offered by the Center, including individual counseling, family therapy, and specialized programs for children, as well as outreach to schools and senior centers.

Tune in as this conversation sheds light on the practical tools and support systems available to widows and families navigating the overwhelming emotions that accompany loss. 

Talking points include:

  • How grief counseling supports the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of loss
  • How the study of death, “Thanatology,” helps us understand the complexities of grief
  • Effective techniques for discussing and planning end-of-life wishes, using tools like the “Five Wishes” document
  • Why focusing on self-care early in the grief process can make a significant difference
  • Available resources for grieving families, including tip sheets and national support networks
  • And much more!

Resources:

Get in Touch with The Widow Empowerment Project:

Connect with Claire Drexler:

 

About Our Guest: 

Claire Drexler is a licensed clinical supervisor and grief educator specializing in bereavement support. She works at the Center for Loss and Bereavement in Pennsylvania, offering counseling, support groups, and educational resources for individuals and families navigating the complexities of grief.

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Supporting Widows with Dignity: The Role of In-Home Care with Mandy Delp (Ep. 8)

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When faced with grief, illness, or the loss of a loved one, finding the right support can make all the difference. 

Mandy Delp, a caregiving expert from Home Helpers, joins host Andy Dziedzic and co-host Megan LeBarron to discuss how compassionate in-home care can provide vital assistance for widows and families during life’s most challenging moments.

Mandy shares the mission of Home Helpers, which offers personalized, non-medical care designed to maintain independence and dignity for those in need. Whether it’s helping with daily tasks like shopping and transportation, or providing advanced support for individuals with dementia, ALS, or in hospice care, Home Helpers tailors its services to the unique needs of each client. Mandy also highlights the emotional benefits of planning ahead and accepting care early, which can prevent unnecessary stress when crises arise.

Key insights include:

  • How comprehensive caregiving—from basic daily assistance to live-in care—can significantly improve quality of life during difficult transitions
  • The importance of tailoring care to help widows and families maintain independence while receiving the emotional and physical support they need
  • Breaking through the resistance many seniors have toward accepting help, and how caregivers can frame services as an enhancement of their independence
  • The value of planning ahead to avoid the emotional and logistical challenges of last-minute caregiving decisions
  • How Home Helpers partners with hospice care teams to provide dignity and peace during end-of-life care
  • And much more!

For those navigating the complexities of caregiving or looking to plan for the future, this discussion offers compassionate and actionable guidance.

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

Connect with Mandy Delp:

Connect with Home Helpers Home Care:

About Our Guest: 

Mandy Delp is a compassionate caregiving expert with Home Helpers, a nationwide provider of non-medical in-home care services. She is committed to empowering families through life’s most challenging transitions, offering support from daily assistance to advanced hospice care.

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Funeral Planning and Preparation with Licensed Funeral Director, Mike McDonald (Ep. 7)

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End of life planning is a sensitive (and often uncomfortable) topic that is easy to avoid, yet it stands as one of the most profound gifts you can give to your loved ones. 

In this episode, Andy Dziedzic, MBA, is joined by co-host Megan LeBarron, Director of Financial Planning at Prepared Retirement Institute. Together they sit down with Mike McDonald, a licensed funeral director at Scanlin-McDonald Funeral Home with 25 years of experience, to discuss the significance of funeral pre-planning to alleviate the emotional and financial stress on families during their most vulnerable moments.

Mike, who has been dedicated to assisting families since the age of 14, sheds light on the critical services provided by funeral homes, including grief support, tribute planning, and handling essential legal paperwork like death certificates. He emphasizes the value of pre-planning your funeral—referred to as “pre-need” planning—as an integral part of your broader financial plan, recommending that individuals start considering these decisions in their mid-to-late 50s.

In this insightful conversation, Andy, Megan, and Mike explore:

  • The critical role of licensed funeral directors in supporting families and honoring final wishes
  • The importance of “pre-need” planning and options to pre-pay funeral expenses, reducing the emotional and financial burden on surviving loved ones
  • Approaching funeral planning as a vital component of estate planning
  • Tips for selecting the right funeral director and creating an accessible funeral plan document
  • Key differences between “pre-need” and “at-need” funeral services, and how to prepare for each
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

Connect with Michael McDonald:

 

About Our Guest: 

Mike McDonald is a licensed funeral director with a rich history in the funeral services industry. As a trusted professional at Scanlin-McDonald Funeral Home in Chalfont, PA, Mike has dedicated his career to easing the burden on grieving families by guiding them through the complexities of funeral planning and honoring their loved ones’ final wishes. His deep understanding of the funeral process, combined with his commitment to ethical standards and compassionate service, makes him an invaluable resource for those looking to plan ahead with care and consideration.

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The Travis Manion Foundation – Finding Healing Through Service to Others (Ep. 6)

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What if your deepest pain could be transformed into your life’s greatest purpose?

Losing a life partner is a profound and disorienting experience that can leave one grappling with feelings of intense anger and sadness.  Those emotions can create a paralysis that prevents us from moving forward or be the catalyst that forces us to reevaluate our entire lives.  

In this episode of the Widow Empowerment Project, host Andy Dziedzic welcomes Stephany Richards – a widow who found healing through volunteer service.  After losing her husband at age 24, Stephany made the decision to channel her anger and sadness into action by participating in an expedition to Alaska. This experience helped her connect with other members of the widowed community and became a turning point when she realized that beauty and loss could coexist together. This newfound clarity led her to engage with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), a service-driven nonprofit focused on community improvement.

Through therapy and her volunteer work with Travis Manion Foundation, Stephany found a way to turn her grief into meaningful action. Her journey illustrates how serving others can transform pain into a powerful source of purpose and connection.

Andy and Stephany discuss:

  • The emotional aftermath of losing a spouse and its impact on one’s life and identity
  • Stephany’s personal journey from profound grief and anger to finding solace in community and service
  • How channeling anger and loss into community involvement aids in emotional recovery
  • The role of the Travis Manion Foundation in fostering healing through volunteer work
  • The foundation’s four major initiatives – Operation Legacy projects that support various national observances and community needs
  • Practical advice on finding a support system and the importance of taking control of one’s healing journey

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Travis Manion Foundation

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

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An Unexpected Loss: Finding Support as a Gold Star Spouse, with Lauren Tella (Ep. 5)

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The concept of widowhood seems like something only those in their twilight years should face. 

Whenever this unexpected change might happen – earlier in life, or later – it can leave a person feeling lost, shocked and without direction. Thankfully, guidance exists for those who need it and the loved ones who support them.

Join Andy Dziedzic as he sits down with Lauren Tella, Accredited Financial Counselor® and Gold Star Spouse, to explore the importance of logistical and financial preparedness for the possibility of losing a life partner. Lauren shares her personal journey as a military spouse who unexpectedly became a member of the widowed community at a very young age, and she offers practical guidance on how to best prepare for this life-changing event.  Join the conversation as Andy and Lauren strategize how to best self-advocate (amidst chaos) in the aftermath of becoming a widow.

Andy and Lauren discuss: 

  • The critical elements of effective estate planning and financial preparedness for married couples, elements which often apply to unmarried individuals, parents, and even children
  • Challenges and support systems available specifically to military spouses facing loss
  • Open financial communication and the importance of knowing where essential documents and credentials are stored
  • Personal experiences with navigating financial and legal aspects post-loss, and practical advice for being your own best advocate
  • And more

 

Resources

Connect With Us

 

About Lauren 

Lauren Tella has over 17 years of experience in nonprofit and government sectors, specializing in financial and work-life education for the military community.  Currently an Education Services Facilitator with , she collaborates with government partners, CNIC, and local military commands to deliver quality-of-life programs.

With credentials including a Master’s in Management & Leadership, Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC), and Syracuse University-certified Project Management professional, Lauren adeptly manages projects, resources, and budgets. Her effective communication skills, honed as a public speaker, allow her to deliver impactful messages to diverse audiences. 

 

The Widow Empowerment Project dedicates this episode to James Christen

Born in Sacramento CA, James M. Christen enlisted in the Army at 17 after graduation from Del Oro High School in 2000. He completed basic training and airborne school  at Ft. Moore (formally Ft. Benning) and reported to 2/325th at Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg). He deployed to Iraq in 2003 with 2/325, again with 11th ACR out of Ft. Irwin in 2005. James spent 15 months in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan with 2/503rd out of Vicenza IT in 2007 and returned to Afghanistan in 2011 with 2/27th out of Schofield Barracks. 

James is remembered for his cutting humor and quick wit. He could captivate a room with his vivid storytelling and musings. He had a knack for learning languages, picking up Italian quickly while living in Vicenza and was focused on learning Pashto to improve his interactions with the local population while deployed in Afghanistan. James had a deep love and respect for his country, his family, and his fellow brothers in uniform. He loved classic American muscle cars and rock & roll music. 

He died on July 19, 2011 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan after his vehicle was struck by an IED; he died instantly.

He is survived by his wife, Lauren. James was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Building Your Support Network with Crisis Navigation Partner, Debra Woog (Ep. 4)

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Losing a loved one is a difficult milestone that often evolves into a crisis situation.  Frequently, many extremely important decisions need to be made quickly, under intense pressure and emotion.  Without an adequate support network of friends, family, and professionals, completing even simple tasks can seem insurmountable. 

Join Andy Dziedzic, MBA as he talks with Debra Woog, a Crisis Navigation Partner® with over 30 years of experience shepherding clients through crises and crossroads by creating and implementing a practical plan of action together.  Debra describes the critical steps to take in managing the loss of a spouse and how to confidently navigate the variety of decisions to be made, especially when there is little to no warning.  Together, Debra and Andy share valuable insights and best practices for civilians and business owners to best prepare for the unexpected upheaval of becoming a member of the widowed community.

Andy and Debra discuss: 

  • Building the skills to effectively navigate crisis management 
  • How to identify and assemble a rock-solid support network before a crisis happens
  • Preparing for difficult conversations with friends and loved ones in the wake of a loss, and the benefits of professional guidance when needed
  • The importance of community, communication, and capacity building during times of grief
  • How a Crisis Navigation Partner® can provide invaluable assistance during intense, decision-heavy life changes
  • And more…

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project: 

Connect with Debra Woog:

About Our Guest: 

Debra Woog is a Crisis Navigation Partner® and founder of Connect2. She provides leaders with expertise, structure and empathy so they can process difficult situations, connect with necessary resources, communicate effectively, and lead with a clear mind and solid strategy. Having experienced her own crises and crossroads, Debra realizes the importance of an outside resource to provide perspective while navigating difficult circumstances, decisions, and conversations. 

For more than two decades, Debra Woog has guided professionals to accelerate their individual development and career growth with outstanding communications. Her career path includes conducting primary research at Harvard Business School for an award-winning book, directing admissions and career development for the MIT dual-Master’s program Leaders for Global Operations, and advising technology companies. 

The Boston Globe profiled Debra for her outstanding abilities to select talented candidates, motivate and develop employees, and resolve conflicts between people as well as between organizations. Her work has also been featured in Forbes, Inc., US News & World Report and more.

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